An interventional study of Dexmedetomidine 0.1μg/kg/h and tavns in PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, taVNS and Dexmedetomidine, sponsored by Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-17.
Sponsored by Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Emergency trauma surgery patients, due to the dual stress effects of sudden trauma events (such as car accidents, falls, engineering accidents) and surgical trauma, have a significantly higher incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. This disease, characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, negative changes in cognitive emotions, and increased arousal, not only severely hinders patients' postoperative psychological recovery and reduces their quality of life, but may also prolong hospital stays, increase the risk of readmission, and impose a heavy medical and economic burden on families and society. Dexmedetomidine, as a highly selective α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist, possesses sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, and sympatholytic effects. By regulating the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system, it can alleviate perioperative stress responses, reduce postoperative anxiety and delirium incidence. In recent years, multiple studies both domestically and internationally have confirmed its potential to prevent PTSD by inhibiting the encoding and consolidation processes of trauma-related memories. In randomized clinical trials, administering dexmedetomidine during and after surgery has been shown to reduce the incidence of PTSD in trauma patients. However, when used alone, some patients still develop PTSD, indicating room for improvement in preventive efficacy. Additionally, there are risks of adverse reactions such as hypotension and bradycardia, which limit its application in certain populations.
As a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation technique, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) exerts its effect by stimulating the vagus nerve branches in the cavum concha. It has the advantages of simple operation, high safety, and can be implemented during the perioperative period. It has been proven to regulate the stress response and emotional processing of the central nervous system, reduce stress response scores, and has the potential for perioperative analgesia. However, there is limited research on its early prevention after emergency trauma surgery, and no exploration of synergistic effects with dexmedetomidine. Currently, there is no clinical research on the use of dexmedetomidine combined with taVNS for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients undergoing emergency trauma surgery at home and abroad. Existing research mostly focuses on single drugs or single neuroregulation techniques, and there are limitations such as small sample size, short follow-up time, and uncontrolled confounding factors such as perioperative pain and delirium, making it difficult to meet the clinical demand for efficient and safe PTSD prevention schemes.
200 studies on the registry are indexed under Combat Disorders; 90 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 300 is above the median of 72 across 167 interventional studies indexed under Combat Disorders.
Browse Combat Disorders studies →Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University is the lead sponsor of 97 studies on the registry; 57 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.
Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
ASA physical status
The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)
Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.
Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
During the period from the commencement of anesthesia to the conclusion of surgery, Group A received dexmedetomidine (specification: 200μg/2mL, diluted with normal saline to 50mL, resulting in a final concentration of 4μg/mL) administered intravenously at a maintenance dose of 0.1μg/kg/h
Drug: Dexmedetomidine 0.1μg/kg/h
On the basis of the identical dexmedetomidine medication as Group A, Group B received additional taVNS intervention: after cleaning the skin of the cavum concha tympanicum of the subjects by trained and qualified medical staff, electrodes were pasted, and stimulation parameters were set at a frequency of 20Hz and a pulse width of 250μs, with fixed intensity stimulation (if the electrode fell off, it was re-pasted to make up for the duration; if the subject could not tolerate it, the intervention was terminated)
Device: tavns
During the period from the commencement of anesthesia to the conclusion of surgery, Group A received dexmedetomidine (specification: 200μg/2mL, diluted with normal saline to 50mL, resulting in a final concentration of 4μg/mL) administered intravenously at a maintenance dose of 0.1μg/kg/h
On the basis of the identical dexmedetomidine medication as Group A, Group B received additional taVNS intervention: after cleaning the skin of the cavum concha tympanicum of the subjects by trained and qualified medical staff, electrodes were pasted, and stimulation parameters were set at a frequency of 20Hz and a pulse width of 250μs, with fixed intensity stimulation (if the electrode fell off, it was re-pasted to make up for the duration; if the subject could not tolerate it, the intervention was terminated)
One month after surgery, the incidence rate, symptom scores, and decrease amplitude of PTSD in both groups were assessed using CAPS-5
One month after surgery, a blinded evaluator assessed the incidence of PTSD in both groups using the CAPS-5 scale (based on DSM-5 criteria) (requiring the presence of 1 intrusion item + 1 avoidance item + 2 cognitive and emotional negative alterations + 2 arousal reaction symptoms, lasting for ≥1 month and affecting function). The CAPS-5 score (0-80 points, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms) and the decrease in score compared to the preoperative baseline (less than 20 points, indicating no symptoms) were simultaneously recorded.
Time frame: One month post-surgery
Pain intensity was evaluated utilizing the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 24 and 48 hours, as well as 1 month postoperatively.
Time frame: At 24/48 hours and 1 month post-surgery
The incidence rates of delirium, nausea, and pruritus were documented within the first three days post-surgery.
Time frame: Within the first 3 days post-surgery
NRS sleep assessment 1-3 days post-surgery
Time frame: Days 1-3 postoperatively
BAI anxiety score 1-3 days after surgery
Time frame: Postoperative days 1-3
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Sep 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Aug 2027, 10 months after the start.
Of 73 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Combat Disorders, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 44. This study's planned 10 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 79 studies reached it within 25 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 44.
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Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University